Bird feeder enclosure

Abstract

An enclosure for a conventional bird feeder having top and bottom portions pivotally secured to a suitable top or bottom support. A shroud extends about the sides and back of the enclosure and includes a front opening for ingress and egress of birds to and from a bird feeder which is disposed within the enclosure. A perch comprising a wall extends from the bottom portion beneath the opening. A weather vane is attached to the enclosure for rotating the enclosure to a position in which the opening is away from the force of the wind to protect the partially enclosed bird feeder from the elements while providing access for birds entering and leaving the enclosure.

What I claim is: 
     
       1. A bird feeder enclosure for detachably mounting a bird feeder on which birds can perch and feed, said bird feeder having a predetermined breadth, said enclosure including an upstanding shroud including a back wall and side walls spaced apart a breadth greater than said predetermined breadth; said side walls having   rear edge portions joined to said back wall and   front wall portions spaced apart a distance greater than said predetermined breadth and defining a front opening through which said bird feeder can pass;   means for detachably mounting said feeder on said enclosure to allow said bird feeder to be moved from a position within said enclosure through said opening to a remote position without said enclosure;   upwardly opening tray means detachably mounted on the lower end of said shroud for collecting any bird feed which might spill from said bird feeder;   a roof member detachably mounted on the upper end of said shroud;   means for mounting one of said tray means and said roof member for rotation about a vertical axis; and   a weather vane mounted on said enclosure and operable in response to wind for rotating the enclosure about said axis to a position in which said front opening is away from the force of the wind to protect the bird feeder from the wind elements while providing access to the bird feeder enclosed therein.   
     
     
       2. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 1 including a bird perch comprising a grill detachably mounted on a forward portion of said tray means at a level below the level of said opening. 
     
     
       3. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 1 wherein said upstanding side walls have upper and lower ends, said back wall has upper and lower ends, said tray means including a bottom wall mounting an upstanding annular mounting flange which includes side flange portions disposed in abutting relation with said lower ends of said side walls of said shroud;   a back flange portion spanning said side flange portions and disposed in abutting relation with said lower end of said back wall of said shroud; and   a front flange portion coupled to said side flange portions and disposed forwardly of said front opening.   
     
     
       4. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 3 including a cover wall mounted on said front flange portion for covering at least a portion of said bottom wall of said tray means forward of said opening. 
     
     
       5. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 4 including a bird perch comprising a grill detachably mounted on said front flange portion at a level below the level of said cover wall. 
     
     
       6. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 5 wherein said front flange portion includes a plurality of spaced apart openings therein; said grill includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced, radially extending mounting rods spanned by arcuate perch rods; said mounting rods including radially inner ends detachably received by said openings in said front flange portion and bearing against an underside of said coverwall.   
     
     
       7. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 3 wherein said back and side flange portions are disposed radially inwardly of said lower ends of said back wall and side walls of said shroud. 
     
     
       8. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 7 including a plurality of spaced apart openings in said lower ends of said back and side walls of said shroud; and coupling means mounted on said lower ends of said back and side flange portions detachably received by said openings for detachably coupling said tray means to said shroud.   
     
     
       9. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 7 wherein said roof member has a breadth substantially greater than the breadth of said tray means. 
     
     
       10. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 9 wherein said roof member includes a top wall terminating in an annular skirt and an annular mounting flange depending from said top wall radially inwardly of said skirt and frictionally receiving said upper end of said shroud. 
     
     
       11. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 10 wherein said annular mounting flange is disposed radially outwardly of said upper end of said side walls and back wall. 
     
     
       12. A bird feeder enclosure comprising: an upstanding shroud having an upstanding back and upstanding sides having spaced apart forward portions defining a front opening of such size as to provide access for a bird;   said shroud including upper and lower ends;   an upwardly opening tray detachably mounted on said lower end of said shroud;   a roof member mounted on said upper end of said shroud;   means coupled to one of said tray and said roof member for mounting said enclosure for rotation about a vertical axis;   weather vane means operable in response to wind for rotating the enclosure about said axis to a position in which said opening is positioned down-wind from the force of the wind to protect said enclosure from the wind;   said tray including an annular flange comprising side flange portions disposed in abutting relation with said lower ends of said sides of said shroud;   a back flange portion spanning said side flange portions and disposed in abutting relation with the lower end of said back of said shroud; and   a front flange portion disposed forwardly of said open front.     
     
     
       13. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 12 including a cover wall mounted on said front flange portion for covering at least a portion of said tray forward of said opening. 
     
     
       14. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 13 including a bird perch comprising a grill detachably mounted on said front flange portion at a level below the level of said opening. 
     
     
       15. The bird feeder enclosure set forth in claim 13 wherein said back and side flange portions are disposed radially inwardly of said lower ends of said back and sides of said shroud.